“The spirit of Christmas needs to be superseded by the Spirit of Christ. The spirit of Christmas is annual; the Spirit of Christ is eternal. The spirit of Christmas is sentimental; the Spirit of Christ is supernatural. The spirit of Christmas is a human product; the Spirit of Christ is a divine person. That makes all the difference in the world”. – Stuart Briscoe
My Bible reading scheme does this to me every year – as the world begins to celebrate Christmas, so I find myself immersed in the book of Revelation! Problem? Well, not really. Look at these verses from the passage I read this morning:
‘To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve His God and Father – to Him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
‘Look He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him, and all the peoples of the earth shall mourn because of Him. So shall it be! Amen’ – Rev 1:5-7
Yes, it’s good to remind ourselves that Jesus Christ was sent into the world as a human baby, totally identified with us hopeless, helpless, sinful humans. But we can’t remain there too long – He was sent with a purpose, the costly redemption of human-kind. The book of Revelation reminds us that the once humble earthly teacher is coming again – this time as the all-conquering, all-powerful King, victorious in battle, glorious in peace.
The Apostle John didn’t write the apocalyptic book so that we can marvel at the interesting and amazing portrayal of future events. He wrote it so that the truth about Christ can penetrate our lives, deepen our faith in Him and strengthen our commitment to follow Him whatever the cost.
The overwhelming message of the Revelation is that His return is without doubt – BE READY!
Last year as I sat outside John’s cave on the island of Patmos where he received the Revelation, I read the Apostle’s description of the glorified Christ – “I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me…and saw someone…’like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to His feet and with a golden sash around His chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance’. When I saw Him I fell at His feet as though dead” – Rev 1:12-17
When the man Jesus Christ walked the earth, the disciple John was probably His closest friend. When John saw Him as He is now – he nearly dropped dead with shock!
At His first advent He came as a baby – when next He comes, He’ll be quite different – BE READY!
The Start of a New Journey! 